GPYP SUMMIT PRESENTERS

​MEET OUR STARS (KEYNOTE SPEAKERS)

Matt BoothMatt Booth is the ATTITUDE EXPERT. Matt is an engaging speaker and author who encourages people to chase their dreams. His humor, quick wit, and ability to connect with people create meaningful attitude changes. Matt is an international speaker and author who grew up on a farm in southwest Wisconsin. He earned his undergraduate degree at University of Wisconsin and graduated with his Master’s Degree in Communication from the University of Dubuque. He currently lives in Dubuque, Iowa on the banks of a small creek that feeds into the mighty Mississippi with his lovely wife, Joie, and their sons, Carter and Graham.

Kat PerkinsGrowing up the daughter of a music teacher in a tiny North Dakota town, Kat Perkins has been singing, dancing, and performing for just about as long as she can remember. Almost as soon as she stepped off the stage at her high school graduation, at just 18 years old, she packed her bags and traveled 600 miles east to Minneapolis, MN where she built a place for herself on both the music and theater stages. After a YouTube performance of Kat in the Amsterdam airport went viral, she caught the attention of the producers of NBC’s The Voice. Kat’s time on The Voice was unforgettable, as she made it all the way to the finals. She has since continued traveling the country performing and sharing her message of living a fearless life.

Ryan TaylorRyan Taylor is a fourth-generation rancher, writer, father, husband, speaker, and state leader. Educated at Towner High School (in a class of 19) and North Dakota State University, Ryan has supplemented his modest ranch income as a freelance writer, a syndicated columnist, a book-peddling publisher, a public relations man for a beef co-op, a road weary sales rep for an animal health company and a rope twirling after-dinner speaker and entertainer. He ranches near Towner, ND with his wife, Nikki, and their three children, on the family ranch ﬁrst homesteaded in 1903. The Taylor Ranch was inducted into the ranch division of the North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame in 2010 for its storied history of perseverance in the face of hardship and its modest homestead beginnings.

Jim JohnsonBased on what transpired in 2006, Coach Jim Johnson is an authority on teamwork, leadership and realizing your dreams. During what people call the “miracle game,” Coach helped an autistic high school senior realize his dream of playing with the team. Hoping for just one basket, Coach, and the rest of the country, was amazed when Jason McElwain scored 20 points in 4 minutes.​He has appeared on Oprah, Good Morning America, and ESPN and is the author of the book A Coach and a Miracle: Life Lessons From a Man Who Believed in an Autistic Boy. in 2015, Coach completed his 20th and final season coaching basketball and is looking forward to speaking, educating, and inspiring more people across the nation. He currently lives in New York with his wife of 33 years, Pat, and their son, Tyler.

​MEET OUR CAST (BREAKOUT PRESENTERS)

Eichelle ArmstrongEichelle loves thoughtful conversation over a hot cup of tea. She is a facilitator and theatre artist who thrives on challenging projects and working with non-profit organizations. Often biting off more than she can chew, she has learned to juggle many things at once. Every day she strives to take on less so that she can focus more on ensuring her work has a positive impact. The project providing the biggest challenge for her right now is the Women’s Devising Project which she is happy and proud to be guiding. During her session, she will share the many lessons she has learned during her near decade-long search for balance. If there is any way she can help or be of use to you, don’t be a stranger. Eichelle will be attending the Summit and looks forward to meeting and learning from you.

Tim DenneyTimothy Denney, MS, Is the principal trainer and consultant at Level 5 Services. A graduate of Biola University in the far-distant past and more recently Fresno State University, Tim has worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor and as the training director at Northwestern Mental Health. Other jobs on his resume include directing a non-profit organization, ministry professional, rock climbing instructor and guide, and personal security professional.

The focus of Tim’s work over the last nine years has included developing a training department to serve the needs of the regional agencies, and developing regional system improvement initiatives that include faith-based, education, primary care, law enforcement, and human service providers throughout NW Minnesota. Tim has lived in Crookston, MN since 2007. He enjoys running, biking, wilderness exploration, and hanging with his dogs, Jackson and Abby.

Jared FladelandJared Fladeland believes in bringing people together for a common purpose. A native of the Greater Grand Forks area, Jared is a graduate of the University of North Dakota, where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance and the Honors program. In 2009, Jared enrolled at Dell’arte International in California, embarking on a life changing journey learning the art of clowning, acrobatics, melodrama, commedia dell’arte, tai chi, improv, theatre games, and Alexander Technique. He became interested in creating what Jared calls a theatre of spirituality, where theatre strives to waken up the audience through emotional catharsis, empathy, and compassion. After completing the one year Professional Training Program, Jared moved to Los Angeles, where he worked alongside well-known theatre producers. After a brief stint in Portland, Oregon, where he worked with Box of Clowns and Imago Theatre, Jared returned to the Midwest and founded Conduit Theatre, bringing the rich theatre genres he worked in on the West Coast to his hometown.

Amber FlynnAmber Flynn is a mom, student affairs professional and involved community member. She frequently refers to herself as a "leftie who grew up in a right-handed world". Because of this, she is accustomed to trying new things and enjoys solving problems using creative ideas. Amber grew up in Grand Forks after her family was stationed here from England. Amber currently works at UND as the Coordinator of Sexual Respect & Violence Prevention, and is a member of the Grand Forks School Board. Amber is married to Aaron and they are parents of two daughters, Emma, 4 and Eleanor, 21 months.

Jonathan HolthJonathan Holth is an entrepreneur, community builder, nonprofit leader, consultant and speaker. He is the co-owner of The Toasted Frog restaurants in Grand Forks, Fargo, and Bismarck, and is also the President and CEO of the Downtown Community Partnership in Fargo. Over the past five years, he has served on over 20 volunteer committees and nonprofit boards. He firmly believes that you must create the community in which you want to live, and you do that by getting involved as much as your schedule permits. He is a featured consultant and speaker throughout the Midwest, focusing on downtown advocacy, urban planning, organizational structure, workplace culture, and conflict resolution. Holth lives in Grand Forks with his wife, Emily, and their three daughters - Sophia, Evelyn, and Violet.

Angie LaxdalAngie Laxdal is a creative writer, content marketer and brand storyteller with over eight years of experience in marketing communications. She has served as a public relations specialist at Altru Health System for the past five years, and prior to that, spent several years as a writer with The Flint Group. Beyond the office, Angie enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters.

Renee NilsenRenee Nilsen in the Assistant Director of Career Development for the University of North Dakota School of Law. She previously led the UND Financial Wellness Program and has experience leading in numerous capacities in the higher education field. In addition, Renee is currently serving as Co-President of the Grand Forks Dollars for Scholars affiliate and is a past President of ND Jump$tart. She is pursuing a Ph.D. from Educational Leadership at UND.

Jennifer SchillingerJennifer M. N. Schillinger is the founder of Strengths Advantage, a local company dedicated to equipping teams and individuals to identify, develop, and apply their strengths. She is passionate about mentorship and experience based learning, encouraging others to find their best self and develop as leaders. She is an avid reader and loves connecting with people at every stage of life. Jennifer has her Bachelor of Science in University Studies, major in Education with minors in Psychology and Communication Studies, and a Master of Science in Counseling with an emphasis on Student Affairs from Minnesota State University Moorhead. She is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and Meyers Briggs certified facilitator.

Amy ShimekAmy Shimek is the CEO of A & R Enterprises and the founder of Step Out & Stay Out, a personal development company that assists individuals to step out of fear and stay out in greatness. Through her experiences as a health care provider, mother, and serial entrepreneur (collectively owning seven different businesses with her husband in their eight years of marriage), she has come to fully understand the mindset that is required to step out of fear and start living on purpose. She is a thought-provoker and peak-performance coach, specializing in connecting mind, body, and spirit. She seeks to co-create a legacy of peace by teaching and living unapologetically. She received her Bachelor's in Nursing from the University of North Dakota in 2004 and her Master's in Science from the University of North Dakota in 2008. She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner and Institute of Integrative Nutrition Health Coach (2013), and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Integrative Medicine at Quantum University. Alongside her husband & business partner, Russell, the Shimeks raise their daughters ages 5, 3, and 2 in their hometown of Grand Forks, ND.

Kelly ThormodsonKelly Thormodson, MLIS, is currently the Interim Director of Library Resources at the University of North Dakota (UND) School of Medicine and Health Sciences and has over 15 years’ experience as a medical librarian. She earned her Master’s in Library and Information Science at the University of Iowa. She attended the Harvard University “Librarians in Academic Leadership” workshop in 2013 and was an Association of Academic Health Science Libraries / National Library of Medicine Leadership Fellow in 2015. In addition, Kelly serves on multiple professional committees within the Medical Library Association and the Association of Academic Health Science Libraries and teaches Continuing Education courses on preparing to be a leader.​​PRESENTATION ABSTRACTS

Backstage Rehearsal [Work/Life Wellness Track]

Step Out, Stay Out: Making Your Brain Work For You – Amy Shimek (11:00 - 11:45am)Is your brain working for you, or against you? This session will introduce you to the concept of neuroplasticity – molding and reshaping your brain to help you achieve and conquer anything. When the science behind how our brain works is broken down in terms that we can understand, then big thinkers with big ideas can produce big actions without being tripped up by the naturally-produced brain hurdles that lead to procrastination. Attend this session to learn about simple disciplines to make your brain work for you!

Your Social Mask: Understanding Impression Management – Jennifer Schillinger (1:30 - 2:15pm)We all have two sides to our social mask. The outside is filled with positive traits we project to the world, while the inside is filled with our quiet thoughts and concealed self. This session will reveal the theory behind that persona and your impression management. You will have the opportunity to explore the two sides of your own persona mask, and build understanding and appreciation for your revealed and concealed self. If you are interested in personal growth, or are feeling stuck in your career or personal life, this is the session for you!

Confessions of a Recovering Workaholic – Eichelle Armstrong (2:30 - 3:15pm)Are you still in search of the ever elusive “balance”? I went from not sleeping, eating, or showering and living life through a haze of commitments, stress and sadness to living a more focused, intentioned and purpose-filled life. In this new life, I get to eat three-ish meals a day, average 8-9 hours of sleep a night and shower daily (generally). I don’t offer a magic bullet or quick fix. I only offer the hard (really, really hard) learned lessons of a person who has been an overachiever her whole life. Come commiserate with me, learn from my pain and start your own personal journey toward a more integrated life you love.

Featured Presentation [Professional Development Track]

Communicate with Attitude – Matt Booth (11:00 - 11:45am)From the day you were born, you’ve depended on the ability to communicate. But somewhere between that first cry for breath and yesterday’s long-winded lunch, the process has changed. With each step forward in technology, you seem to take a step back from personal connection. You now live in a world full of clutter, confusion, and information overload. Success, though, comes to people not because they are smarter or more talented than you, but because they can communicate their ideas clearly. Virtually every facet of your personal and professional life hangs on your ability to communicate, and this session will help you do that better.

The Actor's Nightmare: Speaking Without A Script – Jared Fladeland (1:30 - 2:15pm)Have you ever been asked to speak about yourself, your business, or a topic of interest at the last minute? Does the idea of having to “wing it” terrify you? You aren’t the only one. In this session, Jared will share techniques from his acting training and years of giving impromptu motivational speeches. You will learn to organize your thoughts quickly, to prepare the basic facts about your brand or business, how to deal with "stage fright", and to improvise about yourself or business at networking events or for small groups.

What’s Your Story? Bringing Your Brand to Life Online – Angie Laxdall (2:30 - 3:15pm)With thousands of media messages coming at consumers at a strikingly faster pace each day, Altru Health System has embraced the power of storytelling in creative and innovative ways to foster brand awareness. Digital and visual storytelling tactics such as photos, videos and infographics can help your business cut through the clutter. Learn the importance of storytelling and how it builds brand awareness beyond traditional advertising activities.

In The Spotlight [Community Leadership Track]

Creating the Community in Which You Want to Live – Jonathan Holth (11:00 - 11:45am)Learn how to become more involved in your community from a guy who knows a thing or two about that! You’ll hear how to “break in” to community circles, how to create your own, and how to find the change-makers in your community. Learn from Jonathan about his ongoing experiences of being an engaged citizen, and how to make a difference in your neighborhood and your city.

Reframe Leadership: Analyzing Your Leadership Orientation – Renee Nilsen (1:30 2:15pm)Do you know your leadership frame? In this session, you’ll have an opportunity to complete a leadership assessment based on Bolman and Deal’s four frames and discover your own leadership orientation. You will learn not only about your leadership style, but also how to understand and collaborate with the leadership orientation of those around you. Maximize your career trajectory by becoming an effective and collaborative leader!

The Attitude of ‘Why Not?’: Engaging Teams to Take Risks – Amber Flynn (2:30 - 3:15pm)Have you ever thought of an innovative idea, only to have it shot down or ignored by another? Or have you been quick to dismiss others' ideas? In a world full of "NOs", the power of yes and opportunity lies beneath the surface of innovation, risk, and creativity. This interactive session will challenge you to reflect on how you make decisions, how to better receive input from others, and how to think broader to take advantage of more opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Leadership Lunch

Generations Y and Z: Surfing the New Wave – Tim DenneyFor many Baby Boomers and Generation Xers, understanding Generations Y and Z has been a difficult task. Just who are these newly-emerging people who together make up what has become the “new wave” of entrepreneurs, employees, business and community leaders? Whether you are part of these generations or trying to figure out what makes them tick, I will help you discover why they are potentially the most entrepreneurial and engaging generations we have ever seen. You will also learn why other generations often don’t understand these new-comers, as well as identify engagement strategies to maximize their unique strengths and perspectives. (Note: Actual surfing lessons not included.)​